SS, what do you think would be an equitable way to handle things? This is really a touchy and complicated subject. The widow across the street has issues now with her steps. She's only 60, but the steps are chomping at the bit to get some things that belonged to their dad. The problem is that she's still using those things. She promises they can have them when she's done with them (eg. antique ice box.) And it's not like the things are going to wear out or depreciate in value. So they want them now, but she's not ready to give them up. If it was their mother instead of their stepmother, they would never approach her for these things, but because she's their step, they feel entitled.
Sadly, I can see both sides.
And even more sadly, I'm sure I'll be in the same boat as her some day, as my H is 9 years older and not particularly health conscious. No guarantee, of course. At the same time, until the last few years, I made the majority of the income and he had the majority of the expenses, with joint custody of 4 kids and child support, and had nothing coming into the M whereas I had a number of assets. They have another parent/household, my son does not. I could definitely see giving my son more, and I can easily see it getting ugly some day.
